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WALKING FOOTBALL SCOTTISH CUP
Saturday, 24th of June, saw the Saints in the Community team take part in the biggest one-day Walking Football festival in the world; Walking Football Scotland’s Scottish Cup & Festival 2023.
The Saints in the Community players travelled to Glasgow to participate in the annual Walking Football Scottish Cup & Festival held at the Glasgow Green Football Centre. Our team consisted of eight players and they joined 75 other teams to take part in the tournament, competing in the Over 50s competitive section of the competition.
In the Over 50s Cup, teams were drawn into group stages with six teams competing in 15-minute matches, all aiming to secure one of the top two spots for qualification to the quarter finals. The Community Trust team found themselves grouped with Raith Rovers, Falkirk Foundation, Fort William, Park Villa, and last year's Scottish Cup winners, Pollock United. Our team finished the event with six points from the five games, including a 3-0 win against Park Villa, three competitive 1-1 draws against Raith Rovers, Falkirk Foundation, and Fort William, and an honourable 3-0 loss to Pollok Utd.
Game 1: vs Raith Rovers (1-1 draw)
Game 2: vs Park Villa (3-0 win)
Game 3: vs Pollok Utd (0-3 loss)
Game 4: vs Falkirk Foundation (1-1 draw)
Game 5: vs Fort William (1-1 draw)
Throughout the day, all players were in high spirits, giving their all to advance from the group stages. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be, and the Community Trust finished third in the group, narrowly missing out on a quarter-final spot. Nonetheless, our players can be extremely proud of their efforts, displaying some fantastic football at times, with their only loss coming against Pollok Utd, who went on to secure back-to-back Scottish Cup victories by defeating Saint Anthony's in the final - congratulations to them!
Following the midway point of the WFS Over 50s East Championship, the Saints in the Community walking football team finds themselves currently in 5th place after completing the first round of eight games. The team have accumulated 9 points so far, placing them eight points behind 2nd place Carnoustie Primrose who occupy the last promotion spot. With 8 games remaining, they are determined to make a push for promotion to the Premiership division.
Walking Football was first introduced to Scotland in 2012, starting in Midlothian through the Hibernian Football Fans in Training programme. In June 2015, the first National Walking Football Tournament, organised by Age Scotland, took place in Edinburgh with 14 teams competing.
Moving on to April 2017, Walking Football Scotland was established and, in September of that year, achieved charitable status, becoming affiliated with Age Scotland, and working in close partnership with the Scottish FA, SPFL Trust, SAMH, Drinkaware, St John Scotland, and Prostate Cancer. Fast forward to 2023, the WF Scottish Cup has expanded and now hosts 76 teams, divided into competitive tournaments for Over 50s, 60s, 70s, and Women's Over 40s, with regional competitive leagues taking place throughout Scotland.
If you would like to join our recreational training and have the opportunity to join our players in competitive fixtures, you can take part:
- Mondays, 6:30pm to 7:30pm at North Inch Community Campus
- Tuesdays, 9:30am to 10:20am at McDiarmid Park
- Thursdays, 8pm to 9pm at McDiarmid Park
For further information, please email admin@saintsinthecommunity.co.uk or call 01738 459095.